wickedwahine11
Well-known member
Have you ever had someone do the nicest thing anyone has ever done for you, and you feel undeserving of it? As many people know, I sold my beloved KoAloha, Kanilea and Kamaka ukuleles to pay for my Moore Bettah ukulele.
A couple of weeks ago, I was at the KoAloha factory interviewing Pops for my upcoming book about KoAloha, and he happened to have a tenor on his desk. I asked if I could play it for a minute or two and he said, "Sure but why? You have a KoAloha." I actually was ashamed to tell him that I had sold it. And not to pay rent, or something noble or necessary, but to buy another ukulele.
He promptly left his office and came back with a tenor ukulele that he presented to me. He told me, "I can't pay you for writing this book about us, but I can give you this." I always name my ukuleles, so I named this one "Makana" - or gift. This is not the first time Pops has shown tremendous warmth and aloha to me, as anyone that remembers my crown bridge tenor and Pineapple Sunday can attest.
I felt so unworthy of such a generous and beautiful gift. I was practically in tears and felt ashamed that I had sold my old one, even if I needed to do so to finance another instrument that I love as well. It felt like a betrayal of KoAloha in that moment but Pops insisted. It actually was kind of funny because I kept insisting no, I couldn't, and Pops said if I didn't take it, it would hurt his feelings, and Alan (his son and KoAloha President) piped up, "This is not usually the reaction we get when we give someone an ukulele."
I only hope they understood my reluctance was out of my feelings of unworthiness and that they know that I was truly humbled and appreciated their generosity.
I know so many stories about KoAloha being so generous, and I am learning more all the time as I interview different owners about their KoAloha ukuleles. I also see how much love they engender in the customers - that they consider ohana, or family. I spent much of the day yesterday at a man's house - he has seven KoAlohas, including the first ever Pineapple Sunday and the first ever Jukulele. Tomorrow I get to interview Gary San Angel, who directed both movies about KoAloha, "The KoAloha Story," and "My KoAloha Story." It is so wonderful hearing all of their stories - I even interviewed two people that had the KoAloha logo tattooed on them, if that isn't loyalty I don't know what is!
Writing the book about Moore Bettah ukuleles was the greatest professional experience of my life (and one of the top personal ones as well), far surpassing the stupid courtroom litigation work I used to do as a lawyer. I am blessed to find that writing about KoAloha is a deeply moving, emotional experience as well. It is fascinating to me that one little company can spread so much love and joy, and truly make people feel like they are ohana. I only hope that I can in some small way repay them for their gift...and on a far less serious note, I can say that this project has rekindled a lust for getting a KoAloha abalone rosette slimline tenor or custom. Once that tax refund arrives, all bets are off, even if I have a long time to wait before I can get one.
A couple of weeks ago, I was at the KoAloha factory interviewing Pops for my upcoming book about KoAloha, and he happened to have a tenor on his desk. I asked if I could play it for a minute or two and he said, "Sure but why? You have a KoAloha." I actually was ashamed to tell him that I had sold it. And not to pay rent, or something noble or necessary, but to buy another ukulele.
He promptly left his office and came back with a tenor ukulele that he presented to me. He told me, "I can't pay you for writing this book about us, but I can give you this." I always name my ukuleles, so I named this one "Makana" - or gift. This is not the first time Pops has shown tremendous warmth and aloha to me, as anyone that remembers my crown bridge tenor and Pineapple Sunday can attest.
I felt so unworthy of such a generous and beautiful gift. I was practically in tears and felt ashamed that I had sold my old one, even if I needed to do so to finance another instrument that I love as well. It felt like a betrayal of KoAloha in that moment but Pops insisted. It actually was kind of funny because I kept insisting no, I couldn't, and Pops said if I didn't take it, it would hurt his feelings, and Alan (his son and KoAloha President) piped up, "This is not usually the reaction we get when we give someone an ukulele."
I only hope they understood my reluctance was out of my feelings of unworthiness and that they know that I was truly humbled and appreciated their generosity.
I know so many stories about KoAloha being so generous, and I am learning more all the time as I interview different owners about their KoAloha ukuleles. I also see how much love they engender in the customers - that they consider ohana, or family. I spent much of the day yesterday at a man's house - he has seven KoAlohas, including the first ever Pineapple Sunday and the first ever Jukulele. Tomorrow I get to interview Gary San Angel, who directed both movies about KoAloha, "The KoAloha Story," and "My KoAloha Story." It is so wonderful hearing all of their stories - I even interviewed two people that had the KoAloha logo tattooed on them, if that isn't loyalty I don't know what is!
Writing the book about Moore Bettah ukuleles was the greatest professional experience of my life (and one of the top personal ones as well), far surpassing the stupid courtroom litigation work I used to do as a lawyer. I am blessed to find that writing about KoAloha is a deeply moving, emotional experience as well. It is fascinating to me that one little company can spread so much love and joy, and truly make people feel like they are ohana. I only hope that I can in some small way repay them for their gift...and on a far less serious note, I can say that this project has rekindled a lust for getting a KoAloha abalone rosette slimline tenor or custom. Once that tax refund arrives, all bets are off, even if I have a long time to wait before I can get one.
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